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Gleanings:
Cinema as mirror of contemporary reality
K. S. Sivakumaran
Yours truly is now in Colombo after spending three weeks in two
states of India, Goa in the North West and Kerala in the South West.
There were two International Film Festivals in these places.
The term 'International' included films made in various languages in
India as well. Next to World Literature, I like the Cinema for my
pleasure, entertainment, edification, and understanding of human
behaviour in different circumstances.
The world Cinema takes you to places you have not been physically
present and see as images, people, their intrinsic cultures, hear their
languages and so many details of life as they are lived in the past and
present. And some films are futuristic.
Apart from these you learn about current trends and modes of
filmmaking. Everything has undergone changes since the 1960s when I
started loving the Cinema. And yet human values are seen through despite
challenges. Either they are modified or radically challenged. Violence
and erotic sex have become commonplace and they no more shock you.
May I now briefly describe some of the films I liked in the Kerala
festival up to December 8.
The films concerned are: 'Me Myself, El Rey De San Gregorio, Zero
Zone, Thaniye, Kuda Ke Liye, Samia, Father and Chris.' These films are
from France, Russia, Thailand,Chile, India (Hindi, Malayalam) and
Pakistan (Urdu).
Here are few lines of observation of these films: 'Samia' is a French
film directed by Phillippe Faucon. The film is about Algerian immigrants
in France. A bevy of teenage Arab girls in a family struggle hard to be
liberated from parental conservative attitudes where women are treated
inferiors and should uphold Algerian morality.
One of the girls Samia is particularly ill treated by her elder
brother. Male chauvinism pervades. Reconciliation comes later and is
shown in subtle manner.
'Father' is a Russian film directed by Ivan Solvov. The film has as
its backdrop the Stalin period in the then USSR. The protagonist, a
commander in the Russian army fighting the Germans returns home after
the war. There happens a slight deviation in his conjugal affairs. I do
not want to go further. What the film says is that family bonds are
stronger despite minor distractions.
'Me Myself' is a film from Thailand and directed by Pongpat
Wachirabunjong. It is again a love story with many unexpected events.
The lovers are an advertising executive who had a split with her former
boyfriend; and a male dancer who masquerades like a woman. In an
accident he loses his memory but regains later. The woman who hated all
males slowly falls in love with the dancer.
'Zero Zone' is a Hindi film directed by Arindam Mitra. It's about
Match Fixing in the Indian Cricket Team. I wish that all our sports
people - cricketers,sports journalists and other sportspeople and fans
see this film.
'Khuda Ke Liye' is a film from Pakistan in Urdu language directed by
Shoaib Mansoor. It is a film that ultra nationalists, fundamentalists,
racists and torturers in the guise of powers that be should see to
understand the humankind. Balanced viewpoints of both the opposing
forces are depicted.
'Thaniye' is an Indian film in Malayalam. It's about the neglected
father who was lonely, a kind nurse, the exploitation of his wealth by
the relatives and the dethroning of his pride by his son who take charge
of his affairs.
'El Rey De San Gregorio' is a film from Chile directed by Alfonso
Gazitua. It's about two handicapped man and a woman who falls in love
despite several handicaps. 'Chris' is a film from Turkey directed by Jan
Gassman and Christian Ziorjen. The whole film shows the gradual dying of
a filmmaker of Cancer in his neck.
If we were to analyse these films in detail, we would find that
hitherto inexperienced moments in our lives could be explored.
Contemporary Cinema is no more classical and aesthetic, but they are
created in updated cinematic technology and depict contemporary values
prompted by globalisation that has come to stay.
More on festival films in the Projector page on Mondays.
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